TEX-ED OUT: Mark Teixeira walks off the field after the final out of the Yankees’ loss to the Rangers. Teixeira was then spotted wearing a brace on his wrist, which he hurt on July 29 and aggravated the next night (inset) (Anthony J. Causi; NY Post: Charles Wenzelberg)
Mark Teixeira was spotted eating dinner at Yankee Stadium following yesterday’s 10-6 loss to the Rangers while wearing a wrap on his left wrist, an indication the ailment which caused him to miss a pair of games a few weeks back has flared up again.
General manager Brian Cashman, who admitted the wrist is bothering Teixeira, indicated the first baseman may not play tonight when the Yankees open a three-game series with the Red Sox.
“He might get a rest, but no tests are scheduled,” the GM said. “It’s definitely not as bad as before, but it’s still bothering him. … He’s icing it for maintenance purposes.”
Teixeira originally hurt the wrist while taking a swing July 29 against the Red Sox and, one night later, aggravated it diving as he attempted to make a catch. He didn’t play July 31 or Aug. 1. The Yankees had a day off on Aug. 2.
Teixeira, who has appeared in 112 of the Yankees’ 118 games this season, is just 4-for-his last 17. He went 1-for-5 and drove in a run yesterday.
If he does get the opportunity to play this weekend, Teixeira has to be happy about seeing the Red Sox. He has 18 RBIs in nine games against the Bosox this season. The last Yankee to drive in more runs against the Red Sox in one season was Roger Maris, who plated 19 in 1961. Mickey Mantle drove in 22 runs against the Red Sox in 1958.
➤ CC Sabathia vowed to pitch Aug. 24 after stiffness in his left elbow landed him on the disabled list.
Yesterday, after playing catch for the first time since the injury, the Yankees’ ace remains on target to return on that date.
“It felt really good,” Sabathia said as he walked off the field before yesterday’s game. “I didn’t feel anything in the elbow, so I am confident. I’m just looking forward to pitching next Friday.”
Sabathia said he expects to play catch again today.
“I don’t see why not,” he said. “To not have any discomfort is good.’’
The Yankees haven’t missed Sabathia since he was shut down with an inflamed left elbow Sunday. David Phelps filled in admirably, but they don’t want to contemplate a September or October without their best pitcher, especially since Andy Pettitte’s return from a fractured ankle is far from guaranteed.
After throwing in the outfield Tuesday and Wednesday, Pettitte wasn’t seen on the field yesterday before the game.
➤Robinson Cano wasn’t in the starting lineup for the second straight game due to a stiff neck, but he hit for Jayson Nix in the eighth inning.
Joe Girardi said treatment throughout the day helped. Cano, who walked, is expected to play tonight.
Down three runs in the eighth, Cano held at third on Ichiro Suzuki’s double off the glove of Texas center fielder Craig Gentry.
“He was relying on the third base coach,’’ Girardi said, referring to Rob Thomson not waving Cano home. “I was watching the ball.’’
Sending Cano in that situation would have been foolish because the Yankees were down three with two outs.
➤ With a six-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East when yesterday’s game started, Girardi was asked if he was playing with house money since he had Andruw Jones, a .213 hitter, batting cleanup and Russell Martin, a .197 hitter as the designated hitter.
“Until you get home-field advantage. you are not playing with anyone’s money,’’ Girardi said.
➤ Alex Rodriguez’s return from the DL isn’t going to turn Eric Chavez into a ghost.
“Chavy is going to play. We will probably move him around more,’’ Girardi said of the left-handed hitting corner infielder who is hitting .500 (19-for-38) with five homers and 10 RBIs in the last 12 games. “We have to be careful with Chavy, too. When we do get Alex back it will give us more flexibility.’’
Chavez started Monday and Wednesday against right-handed pitchers but wasn’t in the lineup yesterday against lefty Derek Holland. He fanned as a pinch-hitter in the eighth.
When Rodriguez will return from a fractured left hand isn’t known. He shed the brace following an X-ray Tuesday that showed healing. Rodriguez is due for another X-ray Sunday.